Polkadot vs The Graph

General

Description

Polkadot Logo
Polkadot
 (DOT)

Polkadot is an interoperable blockchain network where developers can create their own blockchains (parachains) and leverage the shared security of the Relay Chain. The system enables native communication between different chains and offers flexible blockspace rental for projects of all sizes with Polkadot 2.0.

What is Polkadot?
The Graph Logo
The Graph
 (GRT)

The Graph is a decentralized indexing protocol designed for efficiently querying blockchain data and is often referred to as the “Google of the blockchain world.” Using so-called subgraphs, developers can specifically retrieve data from blockchains like Ethereum, Polygon, or Avalanche. Data queries are executed via GraphQL, a query language that allows precise access to only the required information.

What is The Graph?
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Purpose and goals

Polkadot Logo
Polkadot
 (DOT)
  • Network of blockchains
  • Interoperability
  • Shared security
  • Scalability
The Graph Logo
The Graph
 (GRT)
  • Decentralized indexing of blockchain data
  • Data sourcing for decentralized applications
  • Open interfaces for developers
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Price and market data

Chart

Polkadot
 (DOT)

$0.8935

+17.6%
The Graph
 (GRT)

$0.0156

+16.4%
Market data
PolkadotThe Graph
All-time high
$54.98
Nov 04, 2021
-98.4%
$2.8400
Feb 11, 2021
-99.5%
Crypto all-time highs
Market cap
$1.52B
$170.73M
Market share
0.059%
0.0066%
Transaction volume (24h)
$128.04M
-52.8%
$19.54M
-48.7%
Exchange rate

1 DOT = $0.8935

1 GRT = $0.0156

DOT converterGRT converter
Prediction for 2026
Powered by AI
$1.6487
+84.5%
$0.0295
+88.1%
DOT predictionGRT prediction
Price trend
Negative
(16/30 days)
Negative
(19/30 days)
Momentum
Negative
NegativePositive
Negative
Negative
NegativePositive
Negative
Relative Strength Index
Neutral
BuySell
Neutral (68.8)
Neutral
BuySell
Neutral (61.33)
News sentiment
Neutral
NegativePositive
Neutral (38/100)

Last 6 months

DOT newsGRT news
Price performance
--6.8%
--9.3%
Price performance
++17.6%
++16.4%
Price performance
++10.3%
--2.8%
Price performance
--78.5%
--83.8%
Annual return
--49.1%
--53.6%
Annual return
--72.9%
--82.9%
Annual return
--19.9%
++14.0%
DOT returnsGRT returns
Average annual return
++40.9%
++42.5%
Max supply
2.1B
Circulating supply
1.7B
10.94B
Inflation
5.55%
Year
4.63%
Year
Crypto inflation

On-chain data

PolkadotThe Graph
Total Value Locked (TVL)
What is Total Value Locked?
Market cap/TVL (ratio)
Transactions (24h)
Active addresses (24h)
520

Our rating

Our rating
PolkadotThe Graph
Our overall rating
Polkadot
The Graph
How we evaluate cryptocurrencies

Our individual ratings

Risk
Polkadot: 4 of 10
Risk (Polkadot)
The Graph: 6 of 10
Risk (The Graph)
Polkadot Logo
The Graph Logo
riskyless risky
Community
Polkadot: 6 of 10
Community (Polkadot)
The Graph: 6 of 10
Community (The Graph)
Polkadot Logo
The Graph Logo
smalllarge
Hype & momentum
Polkadot: 5 of 10
Hype & momentum (Polkadot)
The Graph: 5 of 10
Hype & momentum (The Graph)
Polkadot Logo
The Graph Logo
weakstrong
Active usage
Polkadot: 5 of 10
Active usage (Polkadot)
The Graph: 7 of 10
Active usage (The Graph)
Polkadot Logo
The Graph Logo
lowhigh
Network effect
Polkadot: 3 of 10
Network effect (Polkadot)
The Graph: 6 of 10
Network effect (The Graph)
Polkadot Logo
The Graph Logo
weakstrong
Decentralization
Polkadot: 5 of 10
Decentralization (Polkadot)
The Graph: 4 of 10
Decentralization (The Graph)
Polkadot Logo
The Graph Logo
centralizeddecentralized

Our opinion

Polkadot Logo
Polkadot
 (DOT)
Polkadot takes a technically innovative approach to solving blockchain scalability problems. Instead of running all applications on a single main chain, specialized projects can be deployed on parachains that still benefit from the Relay Chain's security. This enables high-performance applications without compromising on security and stability. With the successful implementation of Polkadot 2.0 and Elastic Scaling in 2025, plus community approval of the JAM protocol, the project demonstrates concrete progress. Over 60 active parachains and the new Agile Coretime system make Polkadot more accessible to developers. However, Polkadot faces stiff competition from Ethereum Layer-2s and other multi-chain solutions. Long-term success hinges on whether the technically elegant design can attract more developers and projects. These recent upgrades leave us cautiously optimistic about Polkadot's future.
What is Polkadot?
The Graph Logo
The Graph
 (GRT)
The Graph is a key infrastructure protocol for Web3, enabling efficient querying of blockchain data—a challenge difficult to solve without specialized indexing. It has become the standard in DeFi, NFTs, and gaming, with many applications relying on its subgraphs. The use of GraphQL offers flexibility to developers, and its economic model with indexers, curators, and delegators ensures decentralized data provision. However, challenges remain. Indexing complex blockchains requires significant resources, potentially leading to dominance by a few large players. The model heavily depends on economic incentives—declines in demand or fee structures could impact network security. The variety of indexed data is still developing, limiting some use cases for developers. The Graph’s long-term dominance depends on how it competes with centralized providers like Alchemy or Moralis and its success in maintaining a truly decentralized network infrastructure. Currently, it is the leading decentralized solution for blockchain indexing, but centralized APIs remain a viable alternative in some cases.
What is The Graph?
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Key data

Key data
PolkadotThe Graph
Sector
Smart Contracts
Indexing
Key feature
Interoperability
Blockchain Data Indexing
Founder
Gavin Wood, Robert Habermeier, Peter Czaban
Yaniv Tal, Brandon Ramirez, Jannis Pohlmann
Developer
Parity Technologies, Chainsafe Systems, Soramitsu
Edge & Node
Published
2017
2020
Institutional investors
  • 1Confirmation
  • Boost VC
  • Digital Currency Group
  • Blockchain Capital
  • Coin Fund
  • Arrington XRP Capital
  • etc.
  • Multicoin Capital
  • Coinbase Ventures
  • Tiger Global Management
  • Digital Currency Group
  • Framework Ventures
  • Fenbushi Capital
  • etc.
Social media
1.59M followers
338,581 followers
Website
polkadot.network
thegraph.com
Whitepaper
Whitepaper
Whitepaper

Technical details

Technical details
PolkadotThe Graph
Blockchain
Polkadot Blockchain
Ethereum Blockchain
Consensus mechanism
Nominated Proof of Stake
Proof of Stake
Staking
Yes
Yes
Open source
Yes
Yes
Energy consumption
Low
Low
Transactions per second
1,000 TPS
Polkadot vs The Graph

Polkadot or The Graph

Market data comparison of DOT versus GRT

The current price of Polkadot is $0.8935 and has decreased by 6.8% in the last 24 hours. The Graph is currently trading at $0.0156, with a drop of 9.3% over the same period. Polkadot has a market cap of $1.52B and ranks 54th. The Graph follows with a market cap of $170.73M, ranking 182nd — meaning it is valued lower.

We automatically update all market data every 15 minutes, so you always have the latest figures for your comparison.

Should I buy Polkadot or The Graph?

You should be aware that investing in cryptocurrencies carries risks, and we are neither allowed nor intending to provide investment advice. Still, we'd like to offer some food for thought: consider the opportunities and risks associated with both Polkadot and The Graph. What target markets and problems are these two projects aiming to address?

If you're still unsure whether to invest in Polkadot or The Graph, you can take a look at some additional market data to help with your decision:

Currently, Polkadot is about -98.4% below it's all-time high of $54.98 reached Nov 04, 2021.
In comparison, The Graph is down approximately -99.5% from it's all-time high of $2.8400 Feb 11, 2021.
Polkadot currently has a 555.2% higher 24h transaction volume of $128.04M compared to The Graph with $19.54M.
Over the past year, Polkadot achieved a total return of -78.5%, while The Graph returned -83.8%. Keep in mind, however, that past performance rarely guarantees future results.

Additional criteria for comparing cryptocurrencies:

  • What problem does the project aim to solve, and is a decentralized network meaningful and necessary for it?
  • How actively is the network being used?
  • Does the project have a large and active community?
  • How strong is the development activity? (e.g., on GitHub)
  • How decentralized is the underlying blockchain and the project itself?

How we evaluate cryptocurrencies

These are just a few indicators you can use to better evaluate and compare cryptocurrencies like Polkadot and The Graph. Cryptocurrencies and their underlying technologies are often difficult to compare — even for professionals. So don’t stress yourself out, and never let emotions or fear of missing out drive your investment decisions.

Where can I buy Polkadot or The Graph?

Today, there are many reputable and secure exchanges that make it easy to invest in Polkadot and The Graph. We're happy to help you choose the right one: simply use our exchange comparison tool to find the platform that best suits your needs. Both Polkadot and The Graph are well-known and in high demand, which means they're available on most major exchanges.

Crypto exchanges comparison

Which crypto wallet is best for Polkadot and The Graph?

If you want to store cryptocurrencies like Polkadot or The Graph yourself, choosing the right wallet is essential. Consider your personal preferences when deciding: Is ease of use important to you? Do you prefer maximum security with a hardware wallet (USB device), or is a software wallet sufficient for your needs? Our crypto wallet comparison helps you find the best wallet for Polkadot, The Graph, and many other cryptocurrencies.

Crypto wallets comparison